Max Fried vs Zack Greinke: Career Stats Comparison
Zack Greinke has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Max Fried has played 2017–present as a pitcher; Zack Greinke played 2004–2023 as a pitcher.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
Max Fried (2017–present) and Zack Greinke (2004–2023) — breaking in during the 2010s and the 2000s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Max Fried has 97 wins and 1,156 strikeouts through October 12, 2026; Zack Greinke finished with 225 wins and 2,979 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Max Fried, with 3.01 to Zack Greinke's 3.49.
- Who won more games? Zack Greinke, with 225 to Max Fried's 97.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Zack Greinke, with 2,979 to Max Fried's 1,156.
- Who had the better WHIP? Max Fried, with 1.14 to Zack Greinke's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Zack Greinke, with 3,389.1 to Max Fried's 1,192.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Zack Greinke, with 5 to Max Fried's 4.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Zack Greinke, with 58,246 career Pitcher PIV to Max Fried's 26,852.
Max Fried
Zack Greinke
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate. Cells highlighted in green mark the player who leads that line. Lower ERA, WHIP and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads. 12 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 4 are counting totals on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded them. Totals where fewer is not an achievement -- losses, walks and hits allowed -- are left unmarked, because they track how long someone pitched rather than how well. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, and the 2010s and the 2000s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Max Fried is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Max Fried | Zack Greinke |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 97 | Leads: 225 |
| Losses not scored | 46 | 156 |
| Games | 220 | Leads: 586 |
| Games Started | 203 | Leads: 541 |
| Complete Games | 6 | Leads: 17 |
| Shutouts | 4 | Leads: 5 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 1 |
| Strikeouts | 1,156 | Leads: 2,979 |
| Walks not scored | 330 | 762 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,026 | 3,207 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 94 | 367 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,192.1 | Leads: 3,389.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.01 | 3.49 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.17 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.73 | 7.91 |
| BB/9 | 2.49 | Leads: 2.02 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Zack Greinke outpaces Max Fried 58,246 to 26,852 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Zack Greinke played 22 seasons to Max Fried's 9, while Max Fried carries the higher per-season figure (2,984 to 2,648). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
PIV is computed through the 2025 season. The career totals on this page include 2026 to date, so PIV does not yet reflect the 2026 season.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Max Fried — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Zack Greinke — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Zack Greinke leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Max Fried owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Zack Greinke. PIV agrees: Zack Greinke grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Max Fried and Zack Greinke careers compare
Max Fried and Zack Greinke were active at the same time between 2017 and 2023. The table compares 220 games of Max Fried with 586 of Zack Greinke across 9 and 22 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Max Fried's edges on the table are ERA (3.01 to 3.49), WHIP (1.14 to 1.17), and strikeouts per nine (8.73 to 7.91). By rate, Max Fried struck out 8.73 and walked 2.49 per nine innings; Zack Greinke struck out 7.91 and walked 2.02. Both had the same role: Max Fried was mainly a starter (203 starts in 220 games); Zack Greinke was mainly a starter (541 starts in 586 games). Max Fried's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Max Fried vs Zack Greinke: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Max Fried or Zack Greinke?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Zack Greinke leads Max Fried in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Max Fried, with 3.01 to Zack Greinke's 3.49.
- Who won more games?
- Zack Greinke, with 225 to Max Fried's 97.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Zack Greinke, with 2,979 to Max Fried's 1,156.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Max Fried, with 1.14 to Zack Greinke's 1.17.